Washing machine

ABSTRACT

A washing machine includes a cabinet; a rotating tub rotatably provided in the cabinet and having a peripheral wall and/or a bottom wall provided with a water outlet; a water receiving pan provided in the cabinet and having at least a portion located below the rotating tub, the water receiving pan having a side peripheral wall extending upwards and being higher than the water outlet, and a height difference between an upper edge of the side peripheral wall of the water receiving pan and an outer bottom face of the rotating tub being less than a half of a height of the rotating tub.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present disclosure is a national phase application of InternationalApplication No. PCT/CN2017/109165, filed on Nov. 2, 2017, which claimsthe priorities of Chinese Application No. 201710853500.3 and201721219453.9, filed in the Chinese Patent Office on Sep. 20, 2017, theentireties of which are herein incorporated by reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the field of electric appliancemanufacturing, more particularly to a washing machine.

BACKGROUND

With development of technology of washing machines, a washing machinehas a trend of having a large capacity. While the washing machinegradually tends to be of large capacity, an overall size of the washingmachine will necessarily increase. Thus it is quite necessary to providea washing machine with small volume and large capacity. Meanwhile,during washing of an existing washing machine, water is distributed in arotating tub and a water containing tub, that is, the water is alsodistributed between the water containing tub and the rotating tub, whichhas large water consumption and causes waste of water resources. For theexisting washing machine, dirt is liable to remain between the watercontaining tub and the rotating tub, to breed bacteria. Furthermore,since the water is distributed between the water containing tub and therotating tub, detergent consumption is also large, this causes waste ofdetergent resources and is not conducive to cost savings.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure seeks to solve at least one of the problemsexisting in the related art to at least some extent. To this end, thepresent disclosure proposes a washing machine employing a single tubstructure, which is not only capacious, water-saving, dirt-free and costeffective, but also has reduced material consumption, high spaceutilization rate and good dehydration effect.

Embodiments of the present disclosure propose a washing machine. Thewashing machine includes a cabinet, a rotating tub, and a waterreceiving pan. The rotating tub rotatably is provided in the cabinet andhas a peripheral wall and/or a bottom wall provided with a water outlet.The water receiving pan is provided in the cabinet and has at least aportion located below the rotating tub. The water receiving pan has aside peripheral wall extending upwards and being higher than the wateroutlet, and a height difference between an upper edge of the sideperipheral wall of the water receiving pan and an outer bottom face ofthe rotating tub is less than a half of a height of the rotating tub.

In the washing machine according to embodiments of the presentdisclosure, the water containing tub is omitted and only the rotatingtub is provided to form the single tub structure, to increase capacity,save water, avoid dirt and reduce costs. Furthermore, by setting heightrelationship between the water receiving pan and the rotating tub,material consumption and space occupation of the water receiving pan canbe reduced, and meanwhile the water can be prevented from splashing toan outside of the water receiving pan during spin-drying.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the waterreceiving pan has a water receiving groove therein, and the waterreceiving groove is provided with a drain port at the lowest areathereof.

Further, a bottom wall face of the water receiving groove is providedwith a water storage groove recessed downwards.

Further, a bottom wall face of the water storage groove is provided witha water drain groove further recessed downwards, and the drain port isprovided in a bottom wall face of the water drain groove.

Further, the water storage groove is located at an outer periphery ofthe bottom wall face of the water receiving groove and extends along acircumferential direction of the water receiving groove.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the washingmachine further includes a water guide cover. The water guide cover isprovided to an internal peripheral wall face of the rotating tub andcovers the water outlet. The water guide cover is provided with a waterinlet and defines a water guide cavity in communication with the waterinlet and the water outlet. Liquid in the rotating tub lifted under theaction of a centrifugal force enters the water guide cavity through thewater inlet and is discharged to the water receiving pan through thewater outlet.

Further, the water inlet is provided in an upper portion of the waterguide cover, and the water outlet is provided in a lower portion of theperipheral wall of the rotating tub.

Further, the water inlet is provided in an upper end of the water guidecover, and the water outlet is provided adjacent to the bottom wall ofthe rotating tub.

Further, a plurality of water outlets are provided and arranged in acircumferential direction of the rotating tub and spaced apart from eachother; a plurality of water guide covers are provided and arranged inthe circumferential direction of the rotating tub and spaced apart fromeach other; and each water guide cover covers at least one correspondingwater outlet.

Embodiments of the present disclosure propose a washing machine. Thewashing machine includes a cabinet, a rotating tub, a water receivingpan and a pulsator. The rotating tub is rotatably provided in thecabinet, and the rotating tub has a peripheral wall and/or a bottom wallprovided with a water outlet. The water receiving pan is provided in thecabinet and has at least a portion located below the rotating tub. Thewater receiving pan has a side peripheral wall extending upwards andbeing higher than the water outlet, and a height difference between anupper edge of the side peripheral wall of the water receiving pan and anouter bottom face of the rotating tub is less than a half of a height ofthe rotating tub. The pulsator is rotatably provided in the rotatingtub.

The washing machine according to embodiments of the present disclosureemploys the single tub structure, to increase capacity, save water,avoid dirt and reduce costs while ensuring dehydration effect.Furthermore, by setting height relationship between the water receivingpan and the rotating tub, material consumption and space occupation ofthe water receiving pan can be reduced, and meanwhile the water can beprevented from splashing to an outside of the water receiving pan duringspin-drying.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present disclosure will become apparent and morereadily appreciated from the following descriptions made with referenceto the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a washing machine according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a partial structure for a washing machineaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a partial structure for a washing machineaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a water receiving pan for a washingmachine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a water receiving pan for a washingmachine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a rotating tub for a washing machineaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a rotating tub for a washing machineaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

washing machine 1;

cabinet 100;

rotating tub 210; water outlet 211; water guide cover 220; water inlet221; water guide cavity 240;

pulsator 300;

water receiving pan 400; water receiving groove 410; drain port 420;water storage groove 430; water drain groove 440;

outer bottom face A of rotating tub.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail andexamples of the embodiments will be illustrated in the drawings, wheresame or similar reference numerals are used to indicate same or similarmembers or members with same or similar functions. The embodimentsdescribed herein with reference to drawings are explanatory,illustrative, and used to generally understand the present disclosure.The embodiments shall not be construed to limit the present disclosure.

In the specification, it is to be understood that terms such as “upper,”“lower,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” “top,” “bottom,” “inner,” “outer,”“axial,” “radial,” and “circumferential” should be construed to refer tothe orientation as then described or as shown in the drawings underdiscussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description anddo not require that the present disclosure be constructed or operated ina particular orientation. Furthermore, in the description of the presentdisclosure, the term “a plurality of” means two or more than two, unlessspecified otherwise.

In the description of the present disclosure, unless specified orlimited otherwise, it should be noted that, terms “mounted,” “connected”and “coupled” may be understood broadly, such as permanent connection ordetachable connection, electronic connection or mechanical connection,direct connection or indirect connection via intermediary, innercommunication or interaction between two elements.

A washing machine 1 according to embodiments of the present disclosurewill be described below with reference to the drawings.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 7, the washing machine 1 according toembodiments of the present disclosure includes a cabinet 100, a rotatingtub 200 and a water receiving pan 400.

The rotating tub 200 is rotatably provided in the cabinet 100 and has aperipheral wall and/or a bottom wall provided with a water outlet 211.The water receiving pan 400 is provided in the cabinet 100 and has atleast a part thereof located below the rotating tub 210. The waterreceiving pan 400 is used to support the rotating tub 200, and it may bea direct support or an indirect support herein. During spin-drying ofthe rotating tub 210, liquid in the rotating tub 210 can be dischargedto the water receiving pan 400 via the water outlet 21, and thendischarged from the water receiving pan 400. A side peripheral wall ofthe water receiving pan 400 extends upwards and is higher than the wateroutlet 211, and a height difference h between an upper edge of the sideperipheral wall of the water receiving pan 400 and an outer bottom faceA of the rotating tub 210 is less than a half of a height H of therotating tub, i.e. h<H/2.

The washing machine 1 according to embodiments of the present disclosureemploys the single tub structure, that is, only the rotating tub 200 isprovided without providing the water containing tub. In this way, thewater is in the rotating tub 200 during washing, and water is furthersaved, the structure is simplified, the capacity is increased, and thedirt and bacteria breeding is reduced.

Further, the water receiving pan 400 is proved, and the heightdifference h between the upper edge of the side peripheral wall of thewater receiving pan 400 and the outer bottom face A of the rotating tub210 is less than a half of the height H of the rotating tub 210, and theheight difference h between the upper edge of the side peripheral wallof the water receiving pan 400 and the outer bottom face A of therotating tub 210 is 1/10-⅓ of the height of the rotating tub 210. In oneembodiment, this range is not restrictive, a side peripheral wall withlower height can be provided, or no side peripheral wall is provided, aslong as the water discharged from the water outlet 211 can be collectedby the water receiving pan 400. Compared to a conventional watercontaining tub, the water receiving pan 400 has a greatly reducedheight, smaller space occupation and omits a tub cover, thus materialconsumption is significantly reduced, and the costs is decreased.Furthermore, a gap between the rotating tub 210 and the cabinet 100 ispromoted, and therefore, for the washing machine with the same volume,the capacity can be made larger by increasing the diameter and theheight of the rotating tub 210.

In addition, the side peripheral wall of the water receiving pan 400extends upwards and is higher than the water outlet 211, and the liquidin the water guide cavity 210 totally flows into the water receiving pan400 after discharged from the water outlet 211 to prevent the watersplashing and spilling from the lower end of the rotating tub 210.

Therefore, the washing machine 1 according to embodiments of the presentdisclosure has advantages of being capacious, water-saving, dirt-freeand cost effective, having reduced material consumption, high spaceutilization rate and good dehydration efficiency, etc.

The washing machine 1 according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 7, the washing machine 1 according toembodiments of the present disclosure includes a cabinet 100, a rotatingtub 200, a water guide cover 220 and a water receiving pan 400.

The rotating tub 210 is rotatably provided in the cabinet 100, therotating tub 210 has a peripheral wall and/or a bottom wall providedwith a water outlet 211. The water guide cover 220 is provided to aninternal peripheral wall face of the rotating tub 210 and covers thewater outlet 211, and the water guide cover 220 is provided with a waterinlet 221 and defines a water guide cavity 240 in communication with thewater inlet 221 and the water outlet 211. Liquid in the rotating tub 210lifted under the action of a centrifugal force enters the water guidecavity 240 through the water inlet 221 and is discharged to the waterreceiving pan 400 through the water outlet 211.

In one embodiment, during spin-dry of the washing machine 1, therotating tub 210 rotates, that is, the water guide cover 220 rotateswith the rotating tub 210, the liquid in the rotating tub 210 movesupwards under the action of the centrifugal force, and enters the waterguide cavity 240 via the water inlet 221. The liquid entering the waterguide cavity 240 is guided by the water guide cover 220 to the wateroutlet 211, and discharged to the water receiving pan 400 through thewater outlet 211.

Thus, the washing machine 1 according to embodiments of the presentdisclosure employs a single tub structure, on this basis, the internalperipheral wall face of the rotating tub 210 is further provided withthe water guide cover 220, the water inlet 221 is provided in the waterguide cover 220, and the water outlet 211 is provided in the peripheralwall and/or the bottom wall, and the water in the rotating tub 210 islifted under the action of the centrifugal force during spin-dry, entersthe water guide cover 220 via the water inlet 221, flows to the wateroutlet 211 under guidance of the water guide cover 220, and isdischarged through the water outlet 211. Thus, the water containing tubis canceled to simplify the structure, increase the capacity, reducedirt and bacteria breeding, and save water while improving dehydrationeffect.

Moreover, the water guide cover 220 is connected to the rotating tub210, it is unnecessary to provide additional structure to the cabinet100 or to configure the cabinet 100 to be a structure of inner and outerlayers to realize water guidance during spin-dry, and selection formaterial of the cabinet 100 is not limited, for example, a metal plateor other materials can be used, to promote appearance.

The water outlet 211 may be provided in the peripheral wall of therotating tub 210, or may be provided in the bottom wall of the rotatingtub 210, or may be provided in both of the peripheral wall and thebottom wall. In one embodiment, the water outlet 211 is provided in theperipheral wall of the rotating tub 210, and the water guide cover 220covers the water outlet 211, and a lower end of the water guide cover220 is only connected to the peripheral wall of the rotating tub 210, tofacilitate sealing of the water guide cover 220 and the peripheral wallof the rotating tub 210. Certainly, the water outlet 211 in the presentdisclosure may also be provided in the bottom wall of the rotating tub210, and the water guide cover 220 covers the water outlet 211, tofacilitate improvement of dehydration efficiency and dehydration effectduring spin-dry, and effective reduction of water splashing from thewater outlet 211. The water outlet 211 is provided in both of theperipheral wall and the bottom wall, and the sealing of the water guidecover 220 and the peripheral wall of the rotating tub 210 isfacilitated, the dehydration efficiency during spin-dry is improved, andthe water is effectively prevented form splashing from the water outlet211.

Therefore, the washing machine 1 according to embodiments of the presentdisclosure has advantages of being capacious, water-saving, dirt-freeand cost effective, having good dehydration efficiency and aestheticappearance, and being easy to seal, etc.

The water receiving pan 400 has a water receiving groove 410 therein,and the water receiving groove 410 is provided with a drain port at thelowest area thereof to drain water. The water receiving pan 400 may alsonot be provided with the drain port, but uses a conduit or the like toextract the water in the water receiving groove 410.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, as illustrated in FIGS. 4and 5, a bottom wall face of the water receiving groove 410 is providedwith a water storage groove 430 recessed downwards. Thus, there may besufficient buffering space for the water coming from clothes duringspin-drying, and water level within the water receiving pan 400 ismaintained below the rotating tub 210 to prevent the water and foamwithin the water receiving pan 400 from crossing the side peripheralwall of the water receiving pan 400 to spill under driving of therotation of the rotating tub 210.

Further, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, a bottom wall face of thewater storage groove 430 is provided with a water drain groove 440further recessed downwards, and the drain port 420 is provided in abottom wall face of the water drain groove 440, and not only the waterwithin the water receiving pan 400 can be further prevented fromspilling, but also the drain port 420 can be located at the lowest areaof the water receiving groove 410, to facilitate draining of the waterto improve drainage effect.

In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the water storagegroove 430 is located at an outer periphery of the bottom wall face ofthe water receiving groove 410 and extends along a circumferentialdirection of the water receiving groove 410, e.g. to form a ring shape,and the water within the water storage groove 430 can be prevented fromforming a rotating water flow which causes that the water cannot besmoothly discharged from the water drain groove 440, and the water levelwithin the water receiving pan 400 can be further prevented from risingwhich causes that the water spills from the upper edge of the sideperipheral wall of the water receiving pan 400.

In some examples of the present disclosure, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3,6 and 7, the peripheral wall of the rotating tub 210 is arrangedparallel to a central axis of the rotating tub 210, and the water guidecover 220 is arranged parallel to a side wall of the rotating tub 210and extends in an up-and-down direction. In other words, an innerdiameter of the rotating tub 210 is equal everywhere in the up-and-downdirection, and an outer diameter of the rotating tub 210 is equaleverywhere in the up-and-down direction. It should be understood hereinthat, the above-described “equal everywhere” means substantially equal,and does not exclude that the rotating tub 210 is provided with someuneven structures thereon. In other words, the rotating tub 210 has asubstantially cylindrical shape.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, as illustrated in FIGS.1-3, 6 and 7, the water inlet 221 is provided in an upper portion of thewater guide cover 220, and the water outlet 211 is provided in a lowerportion of the peripheral wall of the rotating tub 210. It could beunderstood herein that, the upper portion of the water guide cover 220refers to a portion above a center of the water guide cover 220 in theup-and-down direction, and the lower portion of the rotating tub 210refers to a portion below a center of the rotating tub 210 in theup-and-down direction. Thus, during the spin-dry, the rotating tub 210rotates, the water in the rotating tub 210 is lifted under the action ofthe centrifugal force, the water inlet 221 located in the upper portionof the water guide cover 220 can better collect the lifted water, thispart of water enters the water guide cover 220 via the water inlet 221,and flows to the water outlet 211 in the lower portion of the rotatingtub 210 under the guidance of the water guide cover 220, to furtherimprove the dehydration efficiency and the dehydration effect.

Further, the water inlet 221 is provided in the upper end of the waterguide cover 220, to facilitate collection of the liquid in the rotatingtub 210 lifted to the upper end of the rotating tub 210 under the actionof the centrifugal force. The water outlet 211 is provided in theperipheral wall of the rotating tub 210 and arranged adjacent to thebottom wall of the rotating tub 210, and the water outlet 211 is spacedapart from the bottom wall of the rotating tub 210 at a predetermineddistance. Thus, the sealing of the water guide cover 220 and theperipheral wall of the rotating tub 210 is facilitated, and a height ofthe side wall of the water receiving pan 400 can be reduced, to savematerials and reducing costs.

Further, as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3, 6 and 7, in order to promotewater drain effect of the washing machine 1, a plurality of wateroutlets 211 are provided, arranged in a circumferential direction of therotating tub 210 and equally spaced apart from each other; a pluralityof water guide covers 220 are provided, arranged in the circumferentialdirection of the rotating tub 210 and equally spaced apart from eachother, and each water guide cover 220 covers at least one correspondingwater outlet 211. By way of example, two water outlets 211 are providedand arranged oppositely in a radial direction of the rotating tub 210,two water guide covers 220 are provided and arranged oppositely in theradial direction of the rotating tub 210, and the two water guide coverscover the two water outlets 211, respectively.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 7, the washing machine 1 according toembodiments of the present disclosure includes a cabinet 100, a rotatingtub 210, a water receiving pan 400, and a pulsator 300.

The rotating tub 210 is rotatably provided in the cabinet 100, therotating tub 210 has a peripheral wall and/or a bottom wall providedwith a water outlet 211. The water guide cover 220 is provided to aninternal peripheral wall face of the rotating tub 210 and covers thewater outlet 211, and the water guide cover 220 is provided with a waterinlet 221 and defines a water guide cavity 240 in communication with thewater inlet 221 and the water outlet 211. Liquid in the rotating tub 210lifted under the action of a centrifugal force enters the water guidecavity 240 through the water inlet 221 and is discharged to the waterreceiving pan 400 through the water outlet 211. The pulsator 300 isrotatably provided in the rotating tub 210.

The washing machine 1 according to embodiments of the present disclosureemploys the single tub structure, to increase capacity, save water,avoid dirt and reduce costs while ensuring the dehydration effect.Furthermore, material consumption and space occupation of the waterreceiving pan can be reduced, and meanwhile the water can be preventedfrom splashing to an outside of the water receiving pan duringspin-drying

Other constitutions and operations of the washing machine 1 according toembodiments of the present disclosure are well known by those skilled inthe art, which will not be described in detail herein.

Reference throughout this specification to “an embodiment,” “someembodiments,” “an illustrative embodiment”, “an example,” “a specificexample,” or “some examples,” means that a particular feature,structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with theembodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or exampleof the present disclosure. Thus, the appearances of the phrases invarious places throughout this specification are not necessarilyreferring to the same embodiment or example of the present disclosure.Furthermore, the particular features, structures, materials, orcharacteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or moreembodiments or examples.

1. A washing machine, comprising: a cabinet, configured to form the mainbody of the washing machine; a rotating tub rotatably provided in thecabinet, configured to receive water and clothes to be washed, whereinthe rotating tub comprises a peripheral wall and/or a bottom wallprovided with a water outlet; and a water receiving pan, configured toreceive the water comes from the rotating tub through the water outlet,wherein the water receiving part is provided in the cabinet and havingat least a portion located below the rotating tub, the water receivingpan having a side peripheral wall extending upwards and being higherthan the water outlet, and a height difference between an upper edge ofthe side peripheral wall of the water receiving pan and an outer bottomface of the rotating tub being less than a half of a height of therotating tub.
 2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein thewater receiving pan has a water receiving groove therein, and the waterreceiving groove is provided with a drain port at the lowest areathereof.
 3. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein a bottomwall face of the water receiving groove is provided with a water storagegroove recessed downwards.
 4. The washing machine according to claim 3,wherein a bottom wall face of a water storage groove is provided with awater drain groove further recessed downwards, and the drain port isprovided in a bottom wall face of the water drain groove.
 5. The washingmachine according to claim 4, wherein the water storage groove islocated at an outer periphery of the bottom wall face of the waterreceiving groove and extends along a circumferential direction of thewater receiving groove.
 6. The washing machine according to claim 1,further comprising: a water guide cover provided to an internalperipheral wall face of the rotating tub and covering the water outlet,the water guide cover being provided with a water inlet and defining awater guide cavity in communication with the water inlet and the wateroutlet, liquid in the rotating tub lifted under an action of acentrifugal force entering the water guide cavity through the waterinlet and being discharged to the water receiving pan through the wateroutlet.
 7. The washing machine according to claim 6, wherein the waterinlet is provided in an upper portion of the water guide cover, and thewater outlet is provided in a lower portion of a peripheral wall of therotating tub.
 8. The washing machine according to claim 7, wherein thewater inlet is provided in an upper end of the water guide cover, andthe water outlet is adjacent to the bottom wall of the rotating tub. 9.The washing machine according to claim 6, wherein a plurality of wateroutlets are provided and arranged in a circumferential direction of therotating tub and spaced apart from each other; a plurality of waterguide covers are provided and arranged in the circumferential directionof the rotating tub and spaced apart from each other; and each waterguide cover covers at least one corresponding water outlet.
 10. Awashing machine, comprising: a cabinet; a rotating tub rotatablyprovided in the cabinet and having a peripheral wall and/or a bottomwall provided with a water outlet; a water receiving pan provided in thecabinet and having at least a portion located below the rotating tub,the water receiving pan having a side peripheral wall extending upwardsand being higher than the water outlet, and a height difference betweenan upper edge of the side peripheral wall of the water receiving pan andan outer bottom face of the rotating tub being less than a half of aheight of the rotating tub; and a pulsator rotatably provided in therotating tub.